Constructed 2011-present | Predecessor CAF Urbos 2 | |
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Manufacturer Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles Assembly Various locations worldwide Capacity 129-327 seated and standing total, depending on tram length Train length 18 m (59 ft)-43 m (141 ft) | ||
Urbos is a family of trams, streetcars, and light rail vehicles built by CAF.
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The Basque manufacturer CAF previously manufactured locomotives, passenger cars, regional, and underground trains. In 1993, CAF started building trams for Seville Metro, with the delivery of 16 trams through 1999. This was a variant of a Siemens design and some components were delivered by Siemens, including bogies and traction motors. This design was also sold to Lisbon Trams in 1995; CAF then decided to design and build the Urbos in-house.
There are three generations of Urbos, known as Urbos 1, Urbos 2, and Urbos 3. The first generation was ordered by the Bilbao tram operator, who received six trains between 2004 and 2006. The second generation was sold to other operators in Spain, and the third generation is sold in Spain, elsewhere in Europe, the United States, and Australia. Manufacturing locations include Saragossa and Linares, Spain; Elmira, New York, USA; Hortolandia, Brazil and Bagnères-de-Bigorre, France.
Urbos 1
This series was only sold to Euskotren Tranbia to operate tram services in Bilbao. The original Bilbao tram system was shut down in 1964 and the second generation opened in December 2002 with extensions in 2004.
Urbos 2
Urbos 3
The Urbos 3 is the successor of the Urbos 2; all new sales are of Urbos 3. The standard variants, the Urbos 100 and Urbos 70, have either a 100% or 70% low floor design, respectively, and a maximum speed of 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph). The tram type is offered in meter gauge and standard gauge and allows for a tram width of 2,300, 2,400 or 2,650 millimetres (7.55, 7.87 or 8.69 ft). Trams can be assembled from 3, 5, 7 or (only for the Urbos 100) 9 modules, with the length ranging between 23 and 56 metres (75 and 184 ft).
CAF has developed an option to build supercapacitors into the Urbos 3, allowing brief operation without an external electrical supply. This ACR system (Acumulador de Carga Rápida) allowed the tramway operator in Seville to remove the overhead wires in key locations during Holy Week 2011.
Urbos AXL
Vehicles in the Urbos AXL series have larger modules and railway-style pivoting axle bogies. With a maximum speed of 90 kilometres per hour (56 mph), it is designed for high-capacity, mass rapid transit systems.
Urbos TT
The Urbos TT series is built with tram-train technology, connecting existing heavy rail infrastructure directly to urban tramway systems. This makes them ideal for commuter rail services that carry passengers into city centers.
Urbos LRV
Consisting of 2 articulated cars supported by 3 bogies, the LRV variant of Urbos, designed for the North American market, is easily customizable to each customer's needs.